I got to know the Center through my participation on the design team for the Inspired Action Confluence in 2005. The purpose of the Confluence was to bring together a diverse group of people to discover how they could collectively contribute to a better community. Our goal as a design team was to create a space for Confluence participants where they could show up authentically, would share what they know, think and feel, and could find meaningful ways to support each other and work together.
We designed around the principles of Gracious Space, creating a spirit of openness and willingness to invite the stranger and learn together. And in fact when people came to the Confluence it felt very spacious and full of possibility. People stepped into that space pretty easily because they want it and hunger for it. They felt they didn’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. They could step into a space of “not knowing” and support each other in that space.
In my work as an organizational consultant and executive coach, I too often witness people trying to be positive and supportive, yet they unwittingly battle it out for the best ideas. Rather than building up, they break down. In creating Gracious Space we can have a whole range of dialogue, conversations, and ideas that we wouldn’t otherwise.
What really stuck with me through my work with the Center is the idea of showing up and fully being myself, and inviting others to do the same. I have noticed that the more I step into that space, the more I increase the level of connection with other people and ideas. If you are open, if you allow yourself to step into that “I don’t know” space and slow down, it is pretty profound.
We designed around the principles of Gracious Space, creating a spirit of openness and willingness to invite the stranger and learn together. And in fact when people came to the Confluence it felt very spacious and full of possibility. People stepped into that space pretty easily because they want it and hunger for it. They felt they didn’t need to be an expert or have all the answers. They could step into a space of “not knowing” and support each other in that space.
In my work as an organizational consultant and executive coach, I too often witness people trying to be positive and supportive, yet they unwittingly battle it out for the best ideas. Rather than building up, they break down. In creating Gracious Space we can have a whole range of dialogue, conversations, and ideas that we wouldn’t otherwise.
What really stuck with me through my work with the Center is the idea of showing up and fully being myself, and inviting others to do the same. I have noticed that the more I step into that space, the more I increase the level of connection with other people and ideas. If you are open, if you allow yourself to step into that “I don’t know” space and slow down, it is pretty profound.